Control device for a cabin system in an airplane

ABSTRACT

Operating apparatus for a cabin system in an aircraft, which serves for the monitoring and control of the functions of preferably information, audio, lighting, door, water and/or wastewater systems. The apparatus comprises, among other things, a main computer processor with a prescribed operating system and with an application software adapted to the cabin system, an operator interface with a surface-sensitive input device, a controller for the operator interface, a graphics controller, an audio controller, and at least one magnetic coupler for associated interfaces. In order to additional functions independent of the operating apparatus can be carried out at any time, it is provided that an additional personal computer, as a second main computer processor with its central processing unit and further electronic assemblies, is integrated into the operating apparatus with common display screen and common surface-sensitive input device in a housing in such a manner so that an operation of the additional personal computer results by means of the surface-sensitive input device of the operator interface. The central processing unit of the personal computer is autonomously connected to the main computer processor of the operating apparatus, so that additional autonomous functions can be carried out with the aid of the integrated personal computer by an operator without influencing the functions of the operating apparatus.

The invention relates to an operating apparatus for a cabin system in an aircraft, which serves for the monitoring and controlling of the functions of preferably information, audio, lighting, door, water and/or wastewater systems, whereby the operating apparatus comprises, among other things, a main computer processor with a prescribed operating system and with application software adapted to the cabin system, an operator interface with a surface-sensitive input device, a controller for the operator interface, a graphics controller, an audio controller, and at least one magnetic coupler for allocated interfaces.

An operating apparatus of such type is, for example, generally known under the name “CIDS unit” in aircraft. This unit controls and monitors a plurality of cabin functions with the aid of operating devices with simple keyboards and relatively small LCDs. It also requires an interface, for example for the connection of a laptop, which is needed by an operator onboard of an aircraft for carrying out additional functions independent of the operating apparatus. This can relate, for example, to the carrying out of test programs or other user programs for the cabin system, whereby also other operating systems independent of the operating system of the operating apparatus can be used.

The underlying object of the invention is now to embody an operating apparatus of the above mentioned type in such a manner so that additional functions independent of the operating apparatus can be carried out at any time.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that an additional personal computer, as a second main computer processor with its central processing unit and further electronic assemblies, is integrated into the operating apparatus with a common display screen and a common surface-sensitive input device in a housing in such a manner so that an operation of the additional personal computer by means of the surface-sensitive input device of the operator interface results, that the central processing unit of the personal computer is autonomously connected to the main computer processor of the operating apparatus, and that additional autonomous functions can be carried out with the aid of the integrated personal computer by an operator without influencing the functions of the operating apparatus.

Inventive embodiments are described in the dependent claims 2 to 6.

An advantage of the invention exists in a weight savings as well as in the power savings, because when carrying out the additional functions, for example the monitor and loudspeaker of the operating apparatus are used, these structural elements can be omitted from the additional personal computer, and thus do not need to be integrated into the operating apparatus. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the utilized personal computer (or its utilized structural elements) does not (or do not) need any further or additional flight technical permitting or certification for its integration into the operating apparatus, even though structural elements and functions of the operating apparatus are used for the additional functions. Since the additional personal computer can be considered as a structural element module, a comparatively small structural embodiment is advantageously made possible, for example with the dimensions of 360×380×67 mm, which correspond to the dimensions of the operating apparatus.

An example embodiment according to the invention is illustrated in the drawing, wherein it is shown by:

FIG. 1 an operating apparatus for an aircraft cabin system with an integrated personal computer, and

FIG. 2 an exploded view illustration of a complete operating apparatus.

In FIG. 1, the operating apparatus 1 comprises, among other things, a main computer processor 3 with a prescribed operating system and with an application software adapted to the cabin system, an operator interface 4 with a surface-sensitive input device 5, a controller 6 for the electrical connection of the operator interface 4 with the main computer processor 3, a graphics controller 7 that is arranged between the operator interface 4 and the main computer processor 3, an audio controller 8 with a loudspeaker 9 arranged downstream therefrom, and at least one magnetic coupler 10 for allocated interfaces 11 connected to the main computer processor 3.

A personal computer referenced with 2 is integrated with all parts of its structural elements into the operating apparatus 1 in such a manner in a housing with a display screen and with a surface-sensitive input device, so that these components can be used by the main computer processor 3 and the additional computer processor 12. The main computer processor 3 conveys the video and audio data of the PC application directly to the display screen and loudspeaker 9. Inputs on the surface-sensitive input device 5 of the operator interface 4 are transferred to the personal computer 2 and are there processed by the aircraft-autonomous applications. In this context, the central processing unit 12 can advantageously comprise an operating system independent from the central computer processor of the operating apparatus 1 and/or a software for airline-specific application functions. In order to be able to carry out additional autonomous functions with the aid of the personal computer 2 by an operator without an influence of the functions of the operating apparatus 1, the audio controller 13 of the personal computer 2 is connected to the audio controller 8 of the operating apparatus 1, and also the graphics controller 14 of the personal computer 2 is connected via an analog/digital converter 15 to the graphics controller 7 of the operating apparatus 1.

Advantageously, a universal serial data transmission bus (USB) is provided for the structural elements of the operating apparatus 1 and of the personal computer 2, whereby an operation of the personal computer 2 can be achieved fundamentally by means of the surface-sensitive input device 5.

From FIG. 2, the complete operating apparatus is evident, whereby all illustrated structural elements are arranged in a common housing. These are, for example, the personal computer 2, the main computer processor 3, the operator interface 4, the surface-sensitive input device 5, and the central processing unit 12 of the personal computer 2. 

1. Operating apparatus for a cabin system in an aircraft, which serves for the monitoring and control of the functions of preferably information, audio, lighting, door, water and/or wastewater systems, whereby the operating apparatus comprises, among other things, a main computer processor with a prescribed operating system and with an application software adapted to the cabin system, an operator interface with a surface-sensitive input device, a controller for the operator interface, a graphics controller, an audio controller, and at least one magnetic coupler for allocated interfaces, characterized in that an additional personal computer (2), as a second main computer processor with its central processing unit (12) and further electronic assemblies (13, 14, 15), is integrated into the operating apparatus (1) with common display screen and common surface-sensitive input device in a housing, in such a manner so that an operation of the additional personal computer (2) results by means of the surface-sensitive input device (5) of the operator interface (4), that the central processing unit (12) of the personal computer (2) is autonomously connected to the main computer processor (3) of the operating apparatus (1), and that additional autonomous functions can be carried out with the aid of the integrated personal computer (2) by an operator without influencing the functions of the operating apparatus (1).
 2. Operating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the central processing unit (12) comprises an operating system independent of the main computer processor (3) of the operating apparatus (1). 3-6. (canceled).
 7. Operating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the central processing unit (12) comprises a software for airline-specific application functions.
 8. Operating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the audio controller (13) of the personal computer (2) is connected to the audio controller (8) of the operating apparatus (1).
 9. Operating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the graphics controller (14) of the personal computer (2) is connected to the graphics controller (7) of the operating apparatus (1).
 10. Operating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a universal switchable serial data transmission bus (USB) for the structural elements of the operating apparatus (1) and/or of the personal computer (2). 